The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-10
DRIFTING TO VICTORY.
The Volunteer Reaches Port Way
Abe ad Of All Competitors.
While the Big Yachts are just heav-
ing In Sight.
A Good Test of the New Boats
Ability.


ing, the Volunteer crossed the finish line at
this port winner of the $500 cup offered by
j. Pierrepont Morgan for irst-class sloops,
in the race of the New York Yacht Club
squadron from Martha's Vineyard to Marble
head. When the Volunteer crawled over the
line with scarcely wind enough to give her
headway her rivals, the other great sloops,
were hull down ON the southern horizon.
fully six miles astern.
AS the wind had been light since yester-
day afternoon, when the yachts of the
squadron were heating around Cape Cod, ,and
even dead calm prevailed for hours at
time along the south shore during the night,
this result shows the splendid work Of the
new sloop in light winds, while her wind
ward sailing yesterday from Cross Rip to
Highland Light. in which she outpointed
and outsailed every competitor, proves her
to be without q rival in such winds as she
has thus far had TO sail in. ~-s.
The Volunteer was first sighted at O'Clock
this morning, far away to the southwest. A
thick haze had settled over the horizon, and
for some minutes after her tall spars came in
sight there was more or less uncertainty as
to which OF the sloops it might be.
Half an hour later there was no longer any
uouDb Lldb buc olultCCt was lCdulnS thC
fleet. She was now seen heading for the fin
ish line. When the few persons who were
so early abroad became satisfied that 1t was
really Gen. Paines ne6 slOOp that was COM
ing in winner, word was passed quickly
from mouth to mouth, from cottage to cot
tage, and from shore to shore. Tqen, in
trice, the bluffs, neadlands and wharyes be-
gan to fill with eager Sight-seers, whose eyes
were strained towards the slowly approach
ing vessel Piazzas were crowded with cot
tagels and their guests, while every availa-
BILE craft was brought into requlsltlon to
take the curious or interested people to the
vicinity of the finishing line, where the vic
tor could be seen to advantage.
At 5.37 there was a thick haze off shore.
and the wind was so light from the south
west that scarcely ripple could be seen on
the water.
1t was just 5.45 when the Volunteer, find
ing the tide was carrying her to the south
ward of the Electra and finish line, put
about on the port tack and stood up the bay.
She continued on this course for half an
hour, when she came around to starboard
again for the finish line. 1t was almost a
dead calm now, and the yachts that were
astern could scarcely be seen through the
haze. The Volunteer drifted along at snail
like pace with scarcely breeze enough to keep
her headway, but she finally brought up at
the line safe and easy winner twenty-four
and three-Quarters hours from the time OF
the start at Vineyard Baven. As she passed
lazily into the harbor she was carrying her
mainsail, working and club-topsails, and
even with all this canvas set she seemed
scarcely to move, but she drifted in, how
ever, and at SIS, when she dropped anchor
off the Eastern Yacht Club house, si@ was
saluted by guns on all the yachts in - har-
Dor and by cheers from the throngs of peo-
pie now gathered along the shore from the
finishing line to the anchorage. She was
surrounded by an immense flotilla Of small
boats, and hundreds of spectators inspected
the new champion.
At 9.5O the Mayfower passed Half Way
Rock, full mile ahead Of the Priscilla, and
the Bedouin Capt. Craven, of the Maytiow-
er, says he had a calm all night, and didn't
know where the Puritan was. The Maytiow-
er crossed the line at 1910, three hours and a
half behind the Volunteer. The Priscilla
and Bedouin had close race. The Bedouin
took first prize in her class. The Bedouin
crossed the line at 1920 and the Priscilla at
1922.
A reporter was soon on board the Vol
unteer after she dropped anchor. and he
found there happy party, who were only
too willing to tell of the run the yacht had
made from Vineyard Haven. 1T was
grand race up to Pollock Rip Lightship.'
said one of the gentlemen, "and we beat the
fleet handsomely in the thrash to windward,
until off Chatham. Then the wind began to
die down. and we tossed about considerable
in the heavy ground swell that was rolling
in from the outside. 1t was here that the
IuIlbdIl lOSI ucT tOpl1dSl, pIODdDly parting
some of the rigging in a sudden lurch. Be-
fore we got up to Nauset BeacOns the wind
had fallen to a fat calm, and to prevent
drifting we anchored about o'clock, not
very far off shore. The rest Of the fleet
were some miles behind. so we had no fear
but what we had the race well in hand. Sup
per was served, and some Of us took a nap or
two, but everyone was glad when, soon after
8 O'Clock, breeze came in from the south
west and gave us enough air to get headway
on. Then we weighed anchor and slipped
easily up by the Cape, carrying the wind
well up past Race Point Then twas drift
across the bay, with alternating calms and
breezes. though after o'clock the wind held
very fair from the northwest until it died
out, as you know, about 6 o'clock. Before
that hour we had the feet well beaten, but
for while we were little nervous as they
began to crawl up ON us."sSI
Mr.. Burgess was in hurry to get to the
city, so only few words were had with him.
He was of course pleased at the result of the
race, but wished there had been more wind
for more conclusive test of the merits OF
the yachts.
The party on board the Volunteer besides
Gen; Paine aud Mr.. Burgess, were Mr. Rob
ert Treat Paine, brother of the General, Mr..
George II. Richards, DIR. John Bryant, MIR.
Joseph Fay and Mr.. Z. A. Willard
The Sachem, the winner of the schooner
class, arrived at 1912, and the lroauis at
11.33.
The following is the corrected time of the
principal yachts